Learning back-end development is a daunting task, but a career in back-end development is worth the challenge. Back-end developers have a high salary on average and enjoy both work-life balance and rewarding work.
The best time to learn back-end web development is after you learn the basics of front-end development. This will give you the foundational knowledge that you need to better understand back-end development technologies and strategies.
Read on to learn more about learning back-end development. This article will discuss the best time to learn back-end development and tips for learning back-end skills.
Is It Necessary To Learn Front-End Before Back-End?
Learning front-end web development is essentially a prerequisite for learning back-end development. Mastering front-end development prepares you to understand how websites work and what it takes to make a high-functioning site.
Once you understand the basics of HTML, JavaScript, and CSS, you’ll understand how to make the site functional with good back-end code.
Want to know how much JavaScript you need to know for web development? I have a detailed article about it.
Most full-stack web developers learn front-end development first, but even purely back-end developers do well to learn front-end skills as an entry point into their careers. Back-end code needs to be written with the front-end in mind.
JavaScript is an especially helpful starting point. This is because, unlike other languages, JavaScript is used both in the front-end and the back-end. Other popular back-end languages like Python and C# are similar to JavaScript in some ways but can only be used for back-end development, not for front-end.
Best Ways To Learn Back-End Web Development
The best way to start learning back-end development is by learning a back-end programming language. Popular ones include Java, JavaScript, C++, C#, Python, and PHP.
However, there are also other options out there. If you’re looking for a job in back-end web development, you should first research what languages are being used by the companies you’re interested in working for.
You should also learn about setting up servers and hosting websites. A server is essentially a computer that runs continuously, communicating with the client and the databases.
You can rent part of a server through HostGator or GoDaddy, or you can use a cloud hosting service like AWS or DigitalOcean. These operate much the same way but with different user interfaces.
Additionally, you should learn about version control software, like Git. These allow you to track your progress as you work on projects. Furthermore, you can revert to previous versions if necessary.
With Git, you can work on several different projects simultaneously, in teams or a group, with minimal risk of losing work and solid avenues for collaboration.
Coding Bootcamps for Back-End Development
You might find what you need in a coding boot camp. Although many are full-stack, you can also find programs focused on back-end development. Additionally, full-stack programs can give you what you need to start a career in back-end development. After all, the front-end is a good place to start, no matter what path you ultimately choose.
MIT xPRO
MIT’s xPRO program is a great option for those interested in back-end development. This comprehensive course costs only $2,500, which is below average for coding boot camps. It takes place online and requires 15-20 hours per week of work for 11 weeks.
This program is designed to prepare future developers for a career in back-end development. Graduates will know how to make high-quality back-end applications that can be used as a basis for web applications and websites. These skills are highly sought after by employers.
MIT faculty include world-renowned leaders in the industry, offering mentorship and support throughout the program. They also create plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning and practice.
CWRU Online Coding Boot Camp
Case Western Reserve University offers a 24-week coding boot camp in full-stack development that includes many back-end skills, including MongoDB, Node.js, MySQL, Git, and database theory. The course takes place online, with a flexible schedule that allows you to continue working while taking the course.
This boot camp is geared towards building up a significant portfolio while learning so that you’ll be marketable as a web developer by the time you graduate. They also provide career services and mentorship with high-quality instructors to help you find your way in the field.
General Assembly
General Assembly offers a 12-week boot camp in web development that teaches front-end skills and then progresses to teach full-stack development. This is the ideal way to learn web development skills if you’re a beginner. However, General Assembly does not offer a specialized program in back-end skills.
General Assembly is a great program for first-time developers who want to break into the field and narrow down a focus later. Through their program, you can create an eye-catching portfolio while learning to get integrated into the professional field. General Assembly offers career coaching and mentorship every step of the way.
Job Outlook for Back-End Developers
Back-end developers earn $120,500 per year on average, a salary that is nearly $20,000 higher than that of front-end or full-stack developers. All web development professions are seeing growth at the moment, with employment numbers expected to grow by 8% by 2029. Now is a very good time to become a back-end web developer.
This growth is largely due to the increasing digitization of goods and services. Online offerings have expanded considerably in recent years, so the demand for developers has increased steadily. Now more than ever, we need people in the workforce who can create excellent, secure applications and work with large volumes of data.
Back-end developers are responsible for communicating with databases and writing server-side logic, so the expansion of big data has made them all the more useful. Today, a back-end developer needs to be able to write complex algorithms that can safely handle large amounts of data without compromising on either accuracy or speed.
If you are in a hurry to find a job and are new to web devleopment, then the best route to take is to become a front end developer. You can become a front end developer in three to four months time, with zero prior experience in coding. I have don it myself so I know it can be done :). And then at your work you can slowly build more knowledge of back end web development.
Conclusion
Learning back-end web development is challenging but rewarding, and it’s a great way to start a new career. However, you should probably learn some front-end development first. This will teach you crucial information about how web pages work and how data and functionality from the back-end come through on the site.
